Sulflow, Knoshal gain valuable state tourney experience

Montevideo wrestlers Spencer Sulflow and Logan Knoshal were both defeated in the first round of the state Class AA tournament Friday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Bruce Olson, sports editor

Montevideo wrestlers Spencer Sulflow and Logan Knoshal were both defeated in the first round of the state Class AA tournament Friday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Sulflow, at 126 pounds, lost a 3-1 decision to Tone Fuenffinger of Hibbing.

All the scoring occurred in the third period. Fuenffinger got an escape and takedown before Sulflow got an escape late in the match.

Knoshal dropped an 11-3 major decision to Logan Kass of Benilde St. Margaret's in the 132-pound class.

Knoshal trailed 4-1 after the first period and Kass got a reversal in the second period to increase his lead.

Wrestlers who lose in the first round need the person who beat them to also win their second match. That didn't happen as both Fuenffinger and Kass lost their second-round matches, eliminating Sulflow and Knoshal.

Both Knoshall and Sulflow are juniors and figure to have an excellent chance to return to the state tournament next season.

Knoshal finished the season with a record of 30-8, while Sulflow posted a record of 29-11.

Struxness 2nd at 220Dawson-Boyd/Lac qui Parle Valley senior JD Struxness finished second in the 220-pound weight class for the second straight year.

Struxness, who was sidelined by an injury until the section team tournament, scored a 7-1 decision and a pair of first-period pins to advance to the championship match against Clay Broze of Cannon Falls.

Struxness appeared to have the match under control, taking a 6-0 lead in the second period but, in a wild third period, Broze scored a five-poing move (reversal and near fall) to take an 11-8 lead before Struxness got a reversal in the final seconds to make the final score 11-10 in favor of Broze.

Struxness finished his career with 97 wins.

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